Honeywell forecasts bizjet deliveries to top 9,000 through 2025

LAS VEGAS — In its 24th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell Aerospace forecasts up to 9,200 new business jet deliveries worth $270 billion from 2015 to 2025 — a 3% to 5% drop over what was predicted in last year’s forecast.

As a slow growth economic environment takes hold across many global markets, the business aviation industry is not immune to its impact, Honeywell officials noted.

“While emerging markets like Brazil continue to be a bright spot for business aviation over the medium term, we have seen weaker demand across other key growth markets, which may affect near-term order and delivery levels,” said Brian Sill, president, Business and General Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. “And while the sluggish economic growth and political tensions are driving a more reserved approach to purchasing, we are seeing operators invest in retrofits and upgrades for their existing aircraft, especially around connectivity, boosting aftermarket opportunities.”

Key findings in the 2015 Honeywell outlook include:

Deliveries of approximately 675 to 725 new jets in 2015, a single-digit percentage growth year over year. The improvement in deliveries expected in 2015 is largely due to new model introductions and an increase in fractional-usage type of aircraft deliveries.

Operators surveyed plan to make new jet purchases equivalent to about 22% of their fleets over the next five years as replacements or additions to their current fleet.

Of the total new business jet purchase plans, 19% are intended to occur by the end of 2016, while 17% and 20% are scheduled for 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Operators continue to focus on larger-cabin aircraft classes, ranging from super mid-size through ultra long-range and business liner, which are expected to account for more than 80% of all expenditures on new business jets in the near term.

The longer-range forecast through 2025 projects a 3% average annual growth rate despite the relatively flat near-term outlook as new models and improved economic performance contribute to industry growth.

Breakdown by Region

Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC)

Slight improvements in Chinese and Russian purchase plans compared with last year are not enough to support an improved overall BRIC outlook, Honeywell officials said.

Since Honeywell first began spotlighting the BRIC countries in 2011, industry growth there has lost momentum, reaching just over 215 in this year’s survey.

Brazil remained a bright spot by recording the strongest new aircraft purchase plans in the survey, though overall buying plans fell year over year.

The combined BRIC countries retain a strong near-term demand profile with 48% of intended new jet purchases scheduled for the next two years.

Asia Pacific

Operators in Asia Pacific report new jet acquisition plans for 14% of their fleet, up 2% from 2014.

Despite the below-average level, the improved purchase plans yield about a 4% share of global demand over the next five years for Asia Pacific.

Nearly 40% of respondents are scheduling their new purchases within the first two years of the five-year horizon.

Middle East and Africa

Slightly lowered purchase plans were reported, which is not surprising given another year of significant political upheaval and ongoing conflict in the region in tandem with low oil prices.

The share of projected five-year global demand attributed to the Middle East and Africa remained below its historical range of 4% to 7% again this year.

In the Middle East and Africa, 16% of respondents said they will replace or add to their fleet with a new jet purchase, down from 18% last year.

Regional distress continues to weigh on operators, with potential buyers in the region scheduling their purchases later in the next five-year window compared with last year, with only 21% of purchases planned before 2018.

Latin America

The 2015 results remain above the world average, and planned acquisitions remain more front-loaded than the world average.

About 29% of the Latin America sample fleet expects to be replaced or added to with new jet purchases, which is 1 point higher than last year’s survey.

Nearly 48% of this region’s projected purchases are timed to happen between 2015 and 2017.

Because of the current purchase plan levels, Latin America’s 18% share of total projected demand grew slightly compared with a year ago.

North America

New aircraft acquisition plans in North America are very important given the region’s size and the unsettled conditions elsewhere around the world.

An estimated 61% of projected demand comes from North American operators, up 2 points from the 2014 survey.

New jet purchase plan levels slipped less than 1 point in North America, the industry’s largest market, and stand just under the world average of 22%.

Europe

Operators are still contending with sluggish growth and increased political tensions, a refugee and migrant surge, and depreciated currencies.

Europe’s purchase expectations retreated this year to 24%.

The European share of estimated global five-year demand also receded compared with historical norms and is now at 14% in the 2015 survey.

A comparison of the planned timing for European purchases indicates uneven proportions of demand in the next three years of the five-year window, with about 17% allocated through 2016 followed by a dip to 10% in 2017 and a strong rebound to over 26% in 2018.

Used Jets and Flight Activity

Turning to used jets and flight activity, over the course of the past year the pace of flight activity recovery has weakened somewhat, according to the forecast. Ground lost by operators during the 2009 recession still remains to be recaptured.

With respect to the used jet market:

Just under 10% of today’s fleet is up for resale, down from a high of nearly 16% percent in 2009. Meanwhile, asking prices continue to drift lower.

In 2015, the total number of recent model jets (less than 10 years old) listed for resale has risen moderately to around 640 aircraft. However, in proportion to the decline in overall listings, the share of recent model jets for sale has crept up more noticeably.

Respondents increased their used jet acquisition plans by about 4 points, equating to 32% of their fleets in the next five years. All regions’ used jet purchase plans rose except the Middle East and Africa, which was flat.

Honeywell’s forecast methodology is based on multiple sources including macroeconomic analyses, original equipment manufacturers’ development plans shared with the company, and expert deliberations from aerospace industry experts. Honeywell also taps into information gathered from interviews conducted during the forecasting cycle with more than 1,500 nonfractional business jet operators worldwide.